Ashley Owusu got 24 points and Makenna Marisa, a Peters Township graduate, scored 22 as Penn State progressed to the semifinals of the first Women’s Basketball Invitational Tournament, winning 92-87 against Mississippi State on Thursday.
Penn State (22-12) will face Villanova at 2:30 p.m. on Monday at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Illinois will play against Washington State in the other semifinal at 5 p.m..
In her final game at the Bryce Jordan Center, Marisa achieved her 43rd 20-point game. She also contributed four assists and three rebounds.
Owusu scored 10 of her points in the fourth quarter. Alli Campbell added 10 points for the Nittany Lions, and Leilani Kapinus achieved a career-high of five blocks. Penn State had a 58% shooting accuracy and 96% from the free throw line.
Jerkaila Jordan got 36 points for Mississippi State (23-12).
The Nittany Lions’ 22 wins are their highest since they achieved 24 in 2013-14.
